The Tyranny of Liberal Political Correctness is Destroying America

Americans need to wake up to the fact that political correctness is a progressive tool for tyranny. George Orwell warned of the dangers of totalitarian governments in his famous novel, 1984. He knew what he was talking about when he wrote, “Freedom is the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.” That ability is steadily being replaced with such rapid political correctness that even Orwell’s ‘thought police’ would be pleased. Political correctness is the antithesis of free speech as envisioned by our Founding Fathers when they wrote the First Amendment.

Political correctness in its present form isn’t just being sensitive to feelings of bullied groups. Political correctness is a weapon of the progressive movement used both to silence those they disagree with and to indoctrinate as many Americans as possible in progressive ideology. As Aldous Huxley, author of Brave New World, pointed out, “One believes things because one has been conditioned to believe them.” This is what is happening on college and university campuses all over the country as courses in ‘micro aggression’ and ‘white privilege’ are indoctrinating impressionable young minds. In California University of California President Janet Napolitano initiated training sessions that instructed deans and department chairs across the UC system to be careful using phrases such as “America is the land of opportunity,” and “I believe the most qualified person should get the job.” In a handout at one of these training sessions the “Myth of Meritocracy” is specially addressed. This is indoctrination that is just short of brainwashing.

Philip G. Zimbardo, professor emeritus at Stanford University and author of The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil, about his 1971 Stanford prison experiment wrote, “The most dramatic instances of directed behavior change and “mind control” are not the consequence of exotic forms of influence, such as hypnosis, psychotropic drugs, or “brainwashing,” but rather the systematic manipulation of the most mundane aspects of human nature over time in confining settings.” This is exactly what the insidious influence of politically correct thinking is doing to our society. If you buy into the politically correct progressive ideology you are much less likely to consider any alternate point of view. Worse, you feel justified in denying others their freedom of speech to defend an opposing viewpoint. Conservatives commencement speakers, much fewer in number to begin with, are routinely disinvited by colleges and universities or have their events disrupted to prevent them from speaking. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, David Horowitz, and black conservative columnist Star Parker are some of the better known examples of this, but there are many, many others.

Political correctness has gotten people fired from their jobs when someone disagrees with progressive ideology. In 2010 commentator Juan Williams was fired by NPR for saying that seeing people in Muslim garb boarding his plane made him nervous. In 2014 Mozilla Chief Executive Brendan Eich was forced to resign because in 2008 he gave $1000 to support California Proposition 8 against gay marriage. This year, Wendy Bell, a TV anchor in Pennsylvania, was fired over her Facebook post that was deemed insensitive to African-Americans. People who feel in danger of losing their livelihoods are intimidated so much they dare not speak out.

That political correctness is a progressive weapon can be determined who is and isn’t attacked. Chick-fil-A, a supporter of Christian values, has actually been banned in several big cities, including Chicago, Boston, and San Francisco. Bakeries, pizza parlors, photographers and other businesses are sued for following their religious beliefs if those beliefs are contrary to progressive values, while at the same time the DOJ threatens prosecution over anti-Muslim rhetoric. Even sillier, the Justice Department is currently considering the prosecution of climate change deniers. Political correctness is consistently being used by the left to advance their agenda and stifle dissent.

Worse, political correctness puts more than just our freedom at risk. It also endangers our very lives. Most recently a neighbor of the San Bernardino shooters didn’t want to report them for fear of being called racist. The military was aware that something wasn’t right about Major Nidal Hasan before he killed 13 people at Fort Hood, but didn’t want to be accused of profiling. There are over 300 Sanctuary cities in the United States who protect illegal aliens. Kathryn Steinle, murdered in San Francisco in 2015, is just one of thousands of Americans who fall victim to crimes committed by illegals protected by political correctness. Profiling and common sense work, but political correctness prevents us from protecting ourselves. It’s time Americans reject this dangerous and unethical policy of the left. Freedom speech means just that – freedom say things some people don’t want to hear.

About the author

Nicholas Wishek

Nicholas Wishek. Retired teacher. 40 years classroom experience. Served in California National Guard 6 years. BA in history, MA in education. Married 35 years. Two sons. Many columns published in OC Register 2009-2014.